asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the loss and inconvenience caused to farmers and rural dwellers by travelling tinkers and other itinerant dealers who turn loose their stock on farmers' crops, and otherwise cause damage and annoyance and if he will take such steps as may be necessary to protect rural ratepayers from this form of interference.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Protection from Itinerants.
I am aware of the fact that vagrants are a source of annoyance and loss to farmers and others, but I regret that I can hold out no prospect of a satisfactory system of control. The problem has been examined on a number of occasions with a view to the introduction of legislation, but, owing to the practical difficulties of enforcement, the proposal has had to be abandoned.
Hear, hear!
Is the Minister aware that persons who travel from place to place and have no fixed place of abode enjoy immense privileges over people who live in a fixed place, as they cannot be amenable to prosecution if they break the law? Would the Minister not consider that the law should be amended so as to deal not only with tinkers who travel from place to place but also with tourists who may travel from place to place in caravans and who also are in a position to defy the law?
I thought that the Deputy got a good tinkers' vote.
For the protection of the children of these itinerant persons I think the Minister himself, on a previous occasion, gave a direction to the Garda authorities not to allow them to encamp on trunk roads lest their children be knocked down by passing motorists. That was observed for some time. Is the Minister aware that that direction is now more honoured in the breach than in the observance? Would the Minister remind the Guards to insist that they should not make encampments on main roads for the protection of their own children?
I think that the Deputy's recollection is right. I will have the matter brought to the Guards' attention. I think that the protection of the children is necessary.
Is the Minister aware that people residing close to by-roads suffer the greatest hardship?
Did Major-General Dennis suffer hardship?
Unfortunately, these people have no votes.
They are as decent as anybody else.